Story: First World War

Within a month of the declaration of war a New Zealand force had captured Western Samoa from Germany. Here the Union Jack flag is raised at Apia by New Zealand soldiers at 8 a.m. on 30 August 1914, the morning after the occupation. The capture was strategically important because there was a radio transmitter in the hills behind Apia capable of sending signals to Berlin and to the German fleet in the Pacific. The New Zealanders' conquest was a peaceful affair, but it was marred by some disorder when New Zealand soldiers ransacked the liquor store at Aggie Grey's Hotel.